A few great planning opportunities when interest rates are low
The Section 7520 rate, a minimum interest rate that the IRS makes you use, is at 2.8% for July. This rate is published on a monthly basis. An example of when this rate is used is when you create a note. Recently, I prepared a short term note, less than three years, using an interest rate of .76%.
With rates being this low, it is a great time to do some advanced estate planning. A few great planning ideas include:
1) Grantor Retained Annuity Trusts (GRATs). A GRAT is a trust where the grantor retains the annuity interest for a period of years with the remainder going to the beneficiaries. The annuity payment is calculated using the 7520 rate. With a low rate, the assets should be able to increase faster than the interest rate. Therefore, the investment returns above and beyond the interest rate is passed on to the beneficiaries of the GRAT.
2) Charitable Lead Annuity Trust (CLAT). The same reasoning for doing a GRAT applies to a CLAT. The difference is that a charity has the annuity interest instead of the grantor.
3) Gift of a remainder in personal residence or farm. A lot of clients give a piece of real estate to charity upon their death. With low interest rates, the life estate retained by the property owner is worth less and the remainder to the charity is valued higher. The higher the gift to a charity, the bigger the tax deduction.
4) Notes to family members. With banks still being reluctant to give loans to new businesses, some clients are giving intrafamily loans. The interest rate will be low on the note, very low if the note is for less than 3 years.
The above are just a few great advanced planning opportunities available now while the 7520 rates are low. However, Congress and the IRS have recognized some of these and are discussing how to increase the taxes being paid. So plan now while the planning is good.
To discuss planning opportunities while the 7520 rate is low, please consult with an estate planning attorney.
